I made some 8 channel drum tracks using WavPack, this might be something PG could use for Audiophile along with 8 channel wma for future RealDrums allowing full production control over drums.
Multitrack 8ch Drums 138.wavpak]
Multitrack 8ch Drums 138.wav
WavPack Lossless Audio CompressionWavPack is a completely open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. Although the technology is loosely based on previous versions of WavPack, the new version 4 format has been designed from the ground up to offer unparalleled performance and functionality.
In the default lossless mode WavPack acts just like a WinZip compressor for audio files. However, unlike MP3 or WMA encoding which can affect the sound quality, not a single bit of the original information is lost, so there's no chance of degradation. This makes lossless mode ideal for archiving audio material or any other situation where quality is paramount. The compression ratio depends on the source material, but generally is between 30% and 70%.
The hybrid mode provides all the advantages of lossless compression with an additional bonus. Instead of creating a single file, this mode creates both a relatively small, high-quality lossy file that can be used all by itself, and a "correction" file that (when combined with the lossy file) provides full lossless restoration. For some users this means never having to choose between lossless and lossy compression!
WavPack employs only well known, public domain techniques (i.e., linear prediction with LMS adaptation, Elias and Golomb codes) in its implementation. Methods and algorithms that have ever been patented (e.g., arithmetic coding, LZW compression) are specifically avoided. This ensures that WavPack encoders and decoders will remain open and royalty-free.
FeaturesWavPack 4.70.0 features include:
Compatible with virtually all PCM audio formats including 8, 16, 24, and 32-bit ints; 32-bit floats; mono, stereo, and multichannel; sampling rates from 6 to 192 kHz (and non-standard rates)
Multiplatform support including Windows, Linux, and OS X, plus a Flash decoder and encoder and a Silverlight decoder that can work virtually anywhere, and now a web-based audio converter that can decode WavPack files online
Instantly seekable and streaming capable (and gapless)
ReplayGain (including WavPack file scanner and compatible plugins)
Uses ID3v1 and APEv2 tags for metadata (including ReplayGain)
Error-tolerant block format conducive to hardware decoding
Optional "asymmetrical" mode for improved compression
MD5 audio checksums for verification and identification
Unique hybrid mode (provides high quality lossy + "correction" file
Dynamic noise shaping (dns) for optimum quality at lower hybrid bitrates
Hybrid mode now operates as low as 2.25 bits/sample (or 196 kbps for CD audio)
Free and open source with easy to use C library API and unrestrictive license (BSD)
Intuitive command line interface (with wildcards and destination directory)
Small, efficient executable (no large programs or dlls to install)
Special "low latency" version available for custom applications
Self-extracting archives with cuesheets (Windows only)
Java and C# decoders and encoders available
Fully backward compatible to WavPack 1.0
Complete piping support
New features for 4.70.0: Easily transcode from WavPack to WavPack with a single command (including tag copy)
Option to automatically verify every WavPack file when created
All new plugin for Adobe Audition CS5.5, CS6, and CC
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean